Concerns grow over construction of Robert De Niro-backed hotel in historic Krakow site

KRAKOW, POLAND - OCT. 29, 2025: Construction of a new hotel in Krakow by Nobu Hotels, a firm founded and led by actor Robert De Niro, Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and US-Israeli businessman Meir Teper, has sparked concerns regarding the preservation of a historic building in the city.The plot where the hotel facility is being built also includes a building known as Miastoprojekt, a historic building constructed in the 1950s. The monument is listed as a protected monument for being a symbol of socialist-realist architecture.After photos from the site suggested parts of the historic structure had been dismantled, Polish lawmaker Daria Gosek urged the provincial heritage conservator to investigate the project and address potential damage to the protected building.Robert De Niro’s high-end project near Krakow’s Old Town features a five-star hotel, private apartments, and what his company describes as a “cultural district” that will include a theater, art gallery, cinema, and fine dining venues.(Footage by Omar Marques /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)